A volunteer orientation will be on Sunday, November 27th at 1:00 pm to allow all volunteers to be familiar with their positions. Below is a list of volunteer positions required for each night of the event. If you are interested in volunteering please fill out the volunteer form at the bottom of the page.

CLICK HERE to jump directly to the volunteer form.

Contact either Sharon 519-359-6926 sghaycock@gmail.com or Sonia 519-784-0072 s_valencia@hotmail.ca should you have any questions about volunteering for the upcoming Christmas Down on the Farm.

Volunteer Positions

ADMISSION:Two volunteers are required for each night. Each vehicle will pay for admission of each passenger over the age of 2 years old as they enter the property. Admission is $5 per person.

  • Handle cash (add the number of paying occupants in each vehicle) calculate total amount of admission for each vehicle
  • Accept payment and make correct change
  • Ask each driver to follow the laneway to the parking area where an attendant will show them where to park

APPLE CIDER: One volunteer is required for each night. Warmed apple cider is a popular Christmas drink and this year we will be offering plain and spiced apple cider at no charge.

  • Apple cider will be warmed in coffee urns
  • Half fill coffee urns with apple cider. Once heated through add cold apple cider, this will then be the correct temperature for drinking
  • Keep refilling urns as required
  • Fill cups with apple cider and place on trays
  • Offer cider to all those in the coverall – if possible walk around the coverall with a tray of cider
  • At the end of the evening turn off the urns and drain the cider from each urn

CINAMMON HUT BAKERY:Two volunteers are required for each night. The bakery will be making cinnamon buns for sale. Volunteers will be able to cut the raw buns and place on baking sheets and bake the buns at the specified temperature and time. The volunteer will have an eye for baking and not rely totally on the specified baking time for doneness of the buns. Once baked, the buns will be placed into containers for sale.

  • Prepare the cinnamon buns to go into the oven at a specified temperature and baking time
  • Cut up a couple of buns into small bite-sized pieces for free tasting
  • Remove baked buns and place into containers
  • Continue baking buns as needed
  • Add up the total amount of sales and give correct change
  • Continue to clean counter tops during the shift
  • Keep track of inventory should additional buns or containers be needed

COLOURING BOOK SALES: Two volunteers are required for each night. A colouring book as been designed with pictures of the animals on the farm. It is a 10 page book and sells for $5.00 each (HST included). Children may have their pictures taken with the baby animals in the petting barn. These photos fit on the cover of the colouring book.

  • Receive cash for the sale of colouring books
  • Attach the photo that was taken in the petting barn to the front of the colouring book using spray adhesive
  • Keep track of inventory in case additional books need to be reordered prior to the end of the event

HAY RIDE: Three volunteers required for each night. A wagon has been set up with bales of hay so attendees can experience a hay ride around the property at no charge. Volunteers will be sure people waiting for a ride are lined up in a specific area. No one will approach the wagon until the previous passengers have disembarked the wagon. One volunteer will ride on the wagon with the riders for security as the driver of the tractor cannot keep watch of the riders while driving.

  • Crowd control – be sure those waiting for a ride stay in the specified area
  • Assist riders off and on the wagon as necessary
  • Disembark all riders before allowing the next group of riders on the wagon
  • Be sure everyone is seated during the ride – no people standing or walking around the wagon

PARKING ATTENDANTS: Two volunteers are required for each night. A parking area has been designated on the farm. Attendants will direct drivers on where to park.

  • Direct the driver to follow the laneway to the parking area where they will be met by a parking attendant.
  • The parking attendant will ensure all cars are parked in such a way as to allow easy departure and they are not parking in an inappropriate area.

PHOTO SALES: Three volunteers are required for each night. The petting barn has been set up for a farm photo with baby animals. Volunteers will assist the child in holding the baby animal and setting the stage for the photo. Once the photo has been taken there is a Kodak machine onsite for each photo to be printed for pick-up by the child or family member.

  • Organize individuals for each photo shoot with the baby animals, goats or lambs
  • Take a photo of each child/group
  • Receive cash and make change for each photo ($5 each)
  • Print photos off on a Kodak Photo machine (same as seen in Walmart/Shoppers etc).
  • Hand out photos to recipients

SANTA: One volunteer is required for each night. Santa will walk throughout the property being his “jolly self” talking to the children (of all ages) and handing out candy canes. Should a family want to take their picture with Santa, Santa will be agreeable. There will be a “Santa’s Chair” in the coverall where Santa can take a rest and get warm throughout the evening.

SANTA’S SECRET SHOPPE: Three volunteers are required for each night. Santa’s Secret Shoppe is only for children. Adults are not allowed into the shop. This shop was designed so small children can purchase Christmas gifts for their siblings, parents, grandparents or teachers. Each gift has been pre-wrapped so the children are ready to present their gift once is it purchased. There will be a sample of the gift unwrapped for viewing prior to purchasing. All gifts are coded which corresponds with a specific gift. Gifts are priced between $1 and $5 each.

  • Control the children outside who want to shop for their Christmas gifts as only 5 children at a time are allowed into the shop
  • Add up total amount of sales for shopper (HST is included)
  • Receive cash for the sale and give appropriate change
  • Re-stock shelves with appropriate gift as they are sold (to keep shelves full)

SCROOGE’S CAFE: One volunteer is required for each night. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be sold. Large thermoses will be available containing each drink. The volunteer will be responsible for all sales and making change as well as re-filling the thermoses.

Volunteer Form